Mayo company securing US visas and jobs for students and graduates

By Toni Bourke Mayo Advertiser, Fri, Mar 20, 2009

Caroline Joyce, director of Cara International.

It’s that time of year when students start thinking about summer work abroad. What they might not know is there is a Mayo company, with many years experience, which can take all the hassle out of organising visas and jobs abroad.

Cara International, based in Turlough, outside Castlebar, will organise your J1 visa and a job ensuring that you won’t land in the US this summer and fail to gain employment, which was the case for so many last year. “Don’t risk it,” is the advice of Caroline Joyce, director of Cara International. “Secure your job before your travel through Cara International where we provide the whole package.”

And if you’re a graduate and don’t qualify for the J1, arising out of recent developments in the US Cara International can also secure you one of the 20,000 US visas now open to Irish graduates.

This week Taoiseach Brian Cowen met with American President Barack Obama to discuss details of the USA Intern Work and Travel pilot programme while at the same time this west of Ireland agent was busy signing agreements with US sponsoring agents securing thousands of visas for Irish workers.

The agreement allows for 20,000 US visas in return for 5,000 Irish visas.

Cara International is already accepting applicants from the USA on its au pair programme as a result of these changes.

Screening and selection of participants is the responsibility of designated sponsors and may be conducted by the sponsor or in co-operation with the sponsor’s overseas partners/agents. In this case this is Cara International. All participants must be interviewed either in person, by web camera/video conference, or by telephone, and must meet certain program eligibility.

Students must provide proof of sufficient financial resources to support themselves throughout their exchange visitor programme and for their return home and they cannot be accompanied by spouse or dependants.

Cara International has addressed the fact that H-2B Visa holders go to the United States to live and work, filling jobs, when there is a shortage of American workers to satisfy seasonal or peak labour needs. International workers can cover a full summer or winter season, typically five to six months, or may last as long as one year, after which the employer may extend the visa for up to three years.

Cara International has just secured some 2,000 positions with International Training Network. These positions are in hotels in the USA. Cara International is also welcoming J1 summer students for these positions. The company doesn’t just offer the visa but the job as well, director Caroline Joyce has outlined.

In addition to these programmes Cara International had more than 200 applicants for its camp counsellor programme. This programme has now closed but there are positions available for support staff. Their internship and traineeship programme, where the internship training is preorganised, is proving very popular with people being placed as far away as France.

You need to be a graduate with one year’s experience or have worked five years in a professional field such as hotel sector to qualify to take part in professional training in the USA and get paid at the same time.

The au pair programme in the USA is also very popular for young people taking time out. If you are interested in working in the USA or any of Cara International’s other work and Travel Programmes telephone Caroline on 094 928 9802, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.carainter national.net